Saving our cities and our planet Constructing a low-income energy usage reduction program Ben Weisman, Class of 2011 Constructing a low-income energy usage reduction program Ben Weisman, Class of 2011

Where?  Isles, Inc.  Trenton, NJ-based nonprofit community development and environmental organization  “Fostering Self-Reliance”  ENVIRON  Princeton-based international environmental consulting firm  Foundation supports environmental projects  Isles, Inc.  Trenton, NJ-based nonprofit community development and environmental organization  “Fostering Self-Reliance”  ENVIRON  Princeton-based international environmental consulting firm  Foundation supports environmental projects

Low-Income Energy Usage

Low-Income Energy Usage: Space Heating

Low-Income Energy Usage: Cost Savings Household Income Energy Cost per Household Cost Saving if Efficiency Same as Household Income > $100K < $10 K $10 K - $15 K $15 K - $20 K $1,039 $1,124 $1,290 $268 (26%) $252 (22%) $299 (23%)

Why?  Low-income homes are often not insulated, have leaky windows and doors, and use out of date appliances, among other problems

Existing Programs  NJ Comfort Partners  NJ Weatherization Assistance Program  No coordination between the two  Many conditions make houses unserviceable  Too few homes are comprehensively served, especially in urban areas  NJ Comfort Partners  NJ Weatherization Assistance Program  No coordination between the two  Many conditions make houses unserviceable  Too few homes are comprehensively served, especially in urban areas

HEAT Project: Home Energy Action in Trenton  Isles decided to research its opportunities in this field, choosing to audit 5 homes and determine what could be done to help them  Over the summer, I researched for Isles, helping to find the best possible route for its own program  Isles decided to research its opportunities in this field, choosing to audit 5 homes and determine what could be done to help them  Over the summer, I researched for Isles, helping to find the best possible route for its own program

168 Brunswick Ave, Trenton

What should Isles do?  There are many areas where Isles could potentially fit in, whether in a not-for- profit or for-profit role  Based on what I have learned, becoming a county/local agency for the Weatherization Assistance Program seems to be the best option  There are many areas where Isles could potentially fit in, whether in a not-for- profit or for-profit role  Based on what I have learned, becoming a county/local agency for the Weatherization Assistance Program seems to be the best option

This Semester  I am continuing to work with Isles this semester, both as a student in the EPICS course it is sponsoring and in my intern role  We will be observing and helping the homes already audited apply for both state programs  I will also help them continue to explore opportunities enabling them to serve Trenton  I have begun writing a paper that will document our research in addition to hopefully describing a model Usage Reduction Program  I am continuing to work with Isles this semester, both as a student in the EPICS course it is sponsoring and in my intern role  We will be observing and helping the homes already audited apply for both state programs  I will also help them continue to explore opportunities enabling them to serve Trenton  I have begun writing a paper that will document our research in addition to hopefully describing a model Usage Reduction Program